KOHIMA: The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has demanded the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Nagaland’s Dimapur, Chümoukedima and Niuland districts within 14 days.
The federation alleged that despite submitting several representations to the Nagaland government, no decisive action has been taken by the government till date.
NSF president Medovi Rhi and assistant general secretary Kenilo Kent, in a statement on Thursday, said that it submitted the last communique demanding implementation of IPL on February 28.
The NSF stated that it issued a demand in response to the ‘grave alarm’ raised by the worsening crisis in Bangladesh. This crisis, according to the NSF, has contributed to regional unrest and poses a threat to the Naga homeland.”
“The demographic shift we are witnessing is not merely a number on a chart; it represents the dilution of Naga culture, our way of life, and our future as an indigenous people. We will not stand idle as our homeland is turned into a refuge for illegal immigrants,” NSF said.
The NSF stated that any delay in enforcing ILP would be seen as a failure to protect the Naga people and an abdication of the government’s duty.
Reiterating that the Naga homeland must be safeguarded from illegal immigration at all costs, the NSF asserted to continue to monitor the situation closely.
“We are prepared to take up any course of action if the government fails to implement ILP in the three districts,” NSF said.
Nagaland restricts the entry of non-Nagas into the state under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) Act of 1873, which aims to protect the identity and existence of the indigenous people.
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According to the Regulation, anyone who is not an indigenous inhabitant of Nagaland must obtain an Inner Line Permit (ILP) from the Government of Nagaland to enter the state for a limited period.
Notably, ILP does not apply to the Dimapur district which was bifurcated into three districts – Dimapur, Chumoukedima, and Niuland – in 2021.
Dimapur and Niuland districts share an inter-state border with Assam.
